Tag Archives: unnecessarian

My sister-in-law’s birth experience came up in discussion this week when we were home visiting. We knew at the time of her cesarean that the baby was likely premature – even at 41+ weeks – because of the thick coating of vernix on her when she was extracted from my SIL’s body and based on her mother’s gestational pattern. Her OB of course recommends repeat cesarean for future childbirth. Perhaps some of the reasoning is valid, but personally, I think she’s being misinformed and discriminated against.

My husband asked her if she was interested in a VBAC or would go with the OB’s recommendation, and she said “I don’t care.” She doesn’t care? How can that be? How can she say that in front of me knowing damned well that I DO CARE!

Because I do care!

Telling a woman like me that you don’t care is offensive. I do care. I care that my baby likely was unnecessarily removed via major abdominal surgery. I care that the physical and emotional effects of this surgery may not be seen in and by my daughter until later in life. I have just this year (at age 34) begun to learn about and remedy some of the ill effects of my own cesarean birth. I also care that my brother’s wife was subject to interventions that lead to cesarean birth. I really care that she was subjected to a surgery that could have prematurely ended her own life. Stories of maternal death during or shortly following cesarean surgery are working their way into the mainstream media.

We know that this is not the best way for babies to be born unless it is an emergency situation. We know that babies who are born via cesarean section risk breathing issues, spinal issues, being accidentally cut, being seperated at birth from his/her mother, needing NICU support, as well as emotional and chemical problems in the future.

Because of what “I don’t care” implies

She said she doesn’t care to my husband and me knowing full well that we do care. She knows about my work with ICAN. By saying “I don’t care”, she made me feel like she doesn’t believe in the work I am doing or honor my birth philosophy. Instead of saying “I don’t care” so bluntly, she could have said something much more tactful. Try “I’m not sure which path I will take, but given my reproductive health history I will likely do as my doctor recommends and schedule a repeat section.”

My whole being in invested in two very important personal issues: (1) cesarean awareness and advocacy through ICAN; (2) miscarriage – cause, prevention, “treatment”. By saying “I don’t care”, I am left feeling like she doesn’t care about me. (Now, I recognize this as a bit extreme. I know she does care about me, but she didn’t care to think about how this statement would hurt me. This happened days ago and I still hurt.)

Because of who says it

I’d imagine that you or I are more likely to hear something along these lines from someone we care about – a close friend or family member. This makes it all the more painful. If some idiot woman I don’t know or like said this to me, it would roll right off. But the horrible things our family members and friends say to us are really tough to forgive and forget. I know that I must forgive and forget, and that’s partially why I am writing this post.

Because she should care

I recognize that I have no power over another person’s decision to care about health care decisions made for them. However, does that mean that I back off and let a family member be led to medical decisions that could adversely affect her family? This is tricky for sure. I have no desire to badger her and don’t want to negatively impact my relationship with her and my brother, but it is really hard to stay silent when your family chooses to stick its head in the sand. They’d just rather I stick my head in there with them than have to endure one of my “rants”, as I am sure they see it.

I don’t want to negate anyone’s birth experience. I don’t want to tell another woman how she should plan childbirth. However, I believe it is my Calling to advocate, support, and educate women (and their families) with regard to safe and ethical health care decisions specific to prenatal, childbirth, and postnatal care.

What is so offensive about that? Why should my caring be taken so poorly or treated as trivial?